The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, December 7, 2023, secured the conviction and sentencing of one Eze Harrison Arinze for defrauding 34 victims in 13 countries of $592,000.

Arinze was sentenced by Justice J.K Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja

In a statement by the EFCC, Arinze was re-arraigned on a one count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining under false pretence.

His victims are from Burundi, Cameroun, Costa Rica, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Rwanda, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, the United States of America and Zimbabwe.

The amended count charge stated that the defendant, with the alias, Charlotte Brain, sometime between April 2021 and December 2022 fraudulently impersonated one Charlotte Brain on telegram.

In his assumed character, the defendant obtained cryptocurrency worth $592,000.00 from Coinbase exchange users through his bitcoin address.

Arinze pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

In view of the plea, prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant as charged.

Justice Omotosho convicted and sentenced Arinze to three years imprisonment, with an option of N3,000,000.00 fine.

He added that 11.07 Bitcoins valued at $461,280.70 as at December 4, 2023 be restituted to the 34 victims from 13 countries as identified.

Furthermore, the judge ordered that N37,977,108 domiciled in his bank accounts be forfeited to the Federal Government, including a plot of land located at plot No. 34 Anioma Layout, Umuchigbo Iji-nike in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.